Page 74 of Obey

Trey pauses as he looks at Nate, then at Elias, and finally at me. And a slow, delighted smirk spreads across his face as he points at Nate and goes down the line. “Oh, wait. I got it now. Grumpy Daddy, Broody Daddy, and Model Daddy.”

I choke on a laugh as Sloane shrieks with bliss and drops her head onto my shoulder like Trey just told the best joke ever.

“Alright, baby, time to go.”

“Jaceeee. I was finally having fun. Don’t you wanna do body shots with me?” She bats her lashes, her hand slowly inching under my shirt as she whispers, “Papi, I’ll let you lick the salt off whatever you want.”

Fuck. This woman.

For a second, I seriously consider taking her up on that offer. The fact that we're surrounded by people barely registers… until Nate's voice shuts down that fantasy like the fun police he is.

“Goddammit, Sloane. We don't have time for this.” Nate growls.

Sloane's playful demeanor vanishes the instant she hears how pissed he is. "I was just—"

“The night’s over.” His fingers close around her wrist, firm but not rough. “You’re done drinking. You’re done climbing on furniture. We’re leaving."

The shift is so fast it knocks the grin right off my face. One second she’s teasing me, eyes bright and wicked. The next, her lower lip trembles and her eyes are shining for a different reason.

“Whoa, hold the fuck on.” Trey jumps down from the bar, and places himself between Nate and Sloane. “We're not doing that. Get your hand off her.”

Nate turns toward him, his expression hardening. “I'm trying to get her home.”

“And I'm telling you to take your damn hand off her.” Trey doesn't wait for another argument. He wraps his fingers around Nate's wrist and firmly pulls his hand away from Sloane. “She is not your child. You want her to leave, then ask her like you got some fucking sense.”

For a second, Nate looks ready to argue, but Elias nudges him before giving him a pointed look. Nate's attention returns to Sloane, and whatever he sees on her face makes him fall silent.

Nate drops his head back, taking a deep breath before looking at her. “Sloane.”

She won't look at him. Instead, she wipes at her cheek with the back of her hand, mumbling, “I wasn't doin' anything wrong.”

Nate's expression changes. “I know.”

“You yelled at me.”

“I did.” He pauses, visibly struggling with his next words. “And I shouldn't have.”

Sloane peeks up at him, her lower lip still wobbling. “You're always so maaaad.”

“Not at you, Sloane.”

“Well, it sure sounds like it.”

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the only woman alive who can make Nathaniel Blackwell look genuinely unsure of himself.

Nate exhales and adjusts his glasses. “Would you like to get something to eat before we take you home?”

She sniffs. “Like what?”

“Donuts, and we can even get your favorite.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “the ones with the white stuff?”

“Yes, Sloane. With the white stuff.”

She considers that with the seriousness of someone reviewing a multimillion-dollar contract. “And you're not gonna yell at me anymore?”

“No,” he answers quietly. “I'm not going to yell at you anymore.”